Clip for combination weatherstrip and sash balance



' Jan 20, 1959 w. H'. zEGr-:Rs

CLIP FOR COMBINATION WEATHERSTRIP AND SASH BALANCE Filed April 5, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 @ZZ s.

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Jan. 20, 1959 w. H. z'EGERs y 2,869,184

CLIP FOR CoMBINATIoN WEATHERSTRIP' AND-'sAsH BALANCE Filed April 3, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JZ@ Jig S /ZQx 112 116 L 116 /JJZ 11o JM 116 Jzz v CLIP FOR COMBINATIONWEATHERSTRIP SASH BALANCE Filed April 3. 1957 Jan. 20, 1959 w. H. zEGERs United States Patent r CLIP FOR `COMEINATION WEATHERSTRIP AND SASH BALANCE William H. Zegers, Flossmoor, Ill., assigner to Zegers, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 3, 1957, Serial No. 650,436

7 Claims. (Cl. 20-52) My invention relates to a clip for a combination weatherstrip and sash balance, and more particularly, to a clipping .or attaching -device for detachably securing sash balances to window frames.

in recent years la combination weatherstrip and sash balance type of sash mounting has replaced the old style sash weight type of mounting. While these new balances eliminate the need for sash weights, and the double stile forming the elongate passageways in which vthe vsash weights move, and thus have vgreatly simplified window construction besides permitting the use of window frames of less width for windows of a given sash, removal of sashes for replacement or repair is complicated by the fact that the sash balances as Well as the inner and outer stops must also be removed.

As sash balances of this type are conventionally secured to the window frame or the like, sash balance re- `moval ordinarily Vis tedious and time consuming. Moreover, `the balance is frequently damaged during the process of removing the nails or the like that secure it in place.

One of the principal .objects of my invention is to provide a combination weatherstrip and sash balance that is quickly and easily removed.

A further principal object of my invention is to provide a window construction in which the sashes and the sash balances may .be removed as .ia unit after a minimum of dismantling steps are performed.

Another object of the invention `is to provide a simplied mounting device for combination weatherstripping and sash balances which permits the `sash to be secured to the window frame without any permanent deformation whatsoever of the sash balances.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clip for securing combination weatherstripping and sash balances to window frames in which it is `the clip that is fixed to the frame and .not the combination weatherstrip and sash balance.

Still anotherobject of ltheinvention is to provide anew method of detachably securing Window sashes in operating position.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a sash window mounting that permits ready removal of.

sashes, weatherstrips, and balances for repair or replace* ment even by those not skilled in the building trades.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a window construction that not only provides complete weather protection and easy window operation but also permits ready removal of the sashes, Weatherstrips, and balances when desired.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide awindow construction that is economical of manufacture, convenient in use, and readily adapted to a wide'varietyof applications. Y

Other objects, uses, and advantages will be obvious or become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

2,86%),84 Fatented Jan. 20, 1959 fice In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of a window arranged in accordance with the principles of my invention, as viewed from inside the building;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of one of the window frame jambs -of the window shown in Figure l, illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention applied to a combination weatherstrip and sash balance of a preferred type;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 4--4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 illustrating the manner in which the combination weatherstrip and sash balance of Figure 2 is applied .to my mounting device;

Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 4 but illustrating the manner in which the upper and lower window sashes, and both the combination weatherstrips and sash balances mounting these sashes, may be removed as a unit after .the sash balances have been detached from their mountings z Figure `7 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 illustra-ting my detachable mountings' after the sash balance has been removed from the window frame jamb;

Figure 8 is a plan view of one of the clips forming my sash balance mounting device; and

Figure 9 is a side View .of the device shown in Figure 8 positioned against the jamb before it is Viixed to the jamb, illustrating one of the-structural features of the device.

Reference numeral 10 of Figure 1 generally indicates a window construction in which my invention is applied, installed in a building l2. For purposes of illustration, the window construction 10 is shown in this and other ligures of the `drawings `as comprising a Window frame including side jambs 14 and i6, sill 13 and headsection 18. These members provide the familiar rectangular window frame in which is mounted an upper sash 20 and a lower sash 22. :Sashes 2li and 22 are mounted in the window construction 10 for vertical movement by conibination weatherstrip and sash balance members 24, which are best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

The .Lipper sash Ztl may comprise side rails 26 and 28, a top rail 30, a bottom -rail 32, and a window pane 34 associated with the sash rails in the usual manner. The bottom sash 22 may comprise side rails 36 and 33, top rail 4i?, bottom rail 42, Aand window pane 44 associated with these latter rails in the usual manner.

The window construction l@ for illustrative purposes is shown as including outer casing members 50, the ends of which project somewhat beyond the outer sides vof jambsld .and 16 to provide `outer stops for the upper sash Ztl, while a casing member S2 (see FigureA) is Aprovided ,across .the top of the window frame at the outside thereof to form an,.outer stop for the upper sash member at the top of the window frame. On the vinner side of the window, top sto-p strip S4 is provided together with side stop strips S6 and '53. At the bottom of the window,

a stoolmember llis mounted -above ,the Window sill 13.

The `illustrated .combination weatherstrip .and sash balance is one of the forms described ,in the application of Henry J. Zegers, Jr., Serial No. 576,672, filed April 6, 1956, now abandoned and assigned to the assignee of the instant application, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. As best ,shown in Figures ,2 and 3, the sash balance housings 24, which-are identical, veach'tcomprise a .relatively thin elongated strip of `metal 70 (such'a's aluminum) shaped to provide a pair of sash tbalance spring receiving or operating ypassages .72 and a parting strip channel 74%. The strip 79 is shapedwitn y VVrelatively thin and dat side anges 76 which merge into overlapped arcuate portions 78 that in turn merge with relatively at lengths 80 that form the bases for the passages 72. The lengths 80 merge into overlapped arcuate portions 82 that in turn merge into relatively flat lengths 84 that are integral with channel shaped portion 86 that is provided to receive the conventional parting strip found in double hung windows (this strip is omitted in the window construction illustrated).

The arcuate portions 78 and 82 on each side 0f the llanges 76 curve toward each other and generallyv conform to the shape of curved grooves 89 formed in theside rails of the sashes.

A semi-circular section 90 is mounted in the upper portion of each channel 72, these sections 90 being spot welded as at 92 or otherwise secured to the respective adjacent arcuate portions 78 and 82 that dene the channels 72. The sections 90 terminate slightly short of one half of the strip 24 and are proportioned to enlarge somewhat the curvature of portions 78 and 82 of their upper ends as by biasing or bending the upper ends of the respective pairs of portions 78 and 82 away from each other. The sections 90 also form closing members between the doubled arcuate portions 82 and provide housings for coil springs 94 that are employed n mounting the window sashes. As shown in Figure 2, one coil 96 of a spring 94 that is received in each channel 72 is looped over the respective flat lengths 80 to anchor the springs at their upper ends. Springs 94 at their lower ends carry horizontally disposed sash supports 98.

When the sashes are mounted in the window construction, the overlapped arcuate portions 78 and 82 are received in the rounded grooves 89 of the respective sash side rails (see Figure 2). The supports 98 are received under the bottom rails of the respective sashes. When the sashes and 22 are in their lowermost positions, they are supported mainly by the tension exerted on the springs 94, but when they are in their uppermost positions, they are frictionally engaged by the upper ends of arcuate por- 'i n 94 and the arcuate overlapping portions 78 and 82, dei pending upon which way the sashes are moved.

Heretofore, sash balances of the type illustrated have been secured in position by nails or screws passing therethrough into the jamb, as, for instance, through flanges 76 and tiat areas 84. When it is desired to remove the sashes, the nails or other securing means must be removed to detach the balances from the window jambs. a time consuming `and tedious job and in the nature of things, frequently results in damage to and deformation of the sash balance housings 24.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a simplified mounting device 100 in the form of a clip that has the configuration best illustrated in Figures 7, 8, and 9. Device 100 comprises an elongate strip 102 of relatively stiff material, such as aluminum, having in the illustrated embodiment a generally quadrilateral configuration and provided with hooked ends 104. Hooked ends 104 are formed by doubling over two opposed ends so that they extend toward each other.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9, strip 102 is preferably formed with a pair of relatively small perforations 110 and a pair of relatively large perforations 112 at each end of the strip. Referring to Figure 9, preferably the portions of the strip 102 that are adjacent the hooked ends 104 are bent or disposed out of the plane of the central portion 114 for a purpose hereinafter made clear. Also, preferably the corners of the doubled end portions that form hooked ends 104 are trimmed at their corners as In accordance with my invention, before the sash balance housings 24 are applied to the jambs, a clip 100 is secured adjacent the top and bottom of each jamb in a This is manner indicated in Figure 7. It will be seen that the devices extend substantially perpendicular to the sashes and to the jambs, so that the hooked ends 104 are vertically disposed. The devices 100 may be secured in place by appropriate nails (or screws) passing through perforations 110 or by staples 122 passing through each pair of perforations 112, or both. The perforations 112 are made relatively large to provide ample room for inserting the inwardly projecting ends of staples 122 at each end of the staple.

Since each device 100 has its ends bent as generally illustrated in Figure 9, when the nails and/or the staples are applied to tix the device against the jamb, the center portion 114 of the device will be forced inwardly into engagement with the jamb, which bends the hooked ends 104 back into the plane of the portion 114. This preset bend in the device 100 is provided to insure that the hooked portions will not bend or curl toward each other when the device is nailed or stapled in place. lt has been found that when this bend is omitted, the portion 114 is given a concave bend (opposite to the showing of Figure 9) when the staples or nails are applied thereto, which causes the ends 104 to project away from the jamb and interfere with further installation and operation of the sashes.

When the devices 100 have been applied to each jamb in the manner indicated in Figure 7, the sashes are mounted between the sash balances, and then the sash balances and the sashes are inserted into the window opening as a unit. When the unit formed by the sashes and the sash balances has been positioned upright in the window opening, the ashes are vertically aligned with each other adjacent the center of the window (see Figure 6), if this has not already been done, and then the respective ends of each sash balance are gripped one at a time in the manner indicated in Figure 5 to secure them to the devices 100. As indicated in Figure 5, the installer grips the longitudinally extending sides of the sash balance 4and presses these sides towards each other, which causes the sash balance to compress somewhat and/or bend somewhat about its middle portion, or the channel portion 86. The relatively at flanges 76 may then'be positioned behind the hooked ends 104, after which .the installer releases the balance so that it returns substantially to its original eiective width (see Figure 3).

When both of the sash ybalances have been secured to the jambs in this manner, the sashes are mounted for operation in the window. Stops 54, 56 and the remaining components of the window construction are applied in the usual manner. Also, appropriate weatherstripping may be applied to the sashes as deemed desirable or necessary.

When it is desired to remove the sashes, the inner stops S4 and 56 are removed, and the sashes are vertically aligned adjacent the center of the window opening. The ends of the sash balances are then gripped one at a time in the manner indicated in Figure 5 to compress or bend the balances so that the anges 76 may be removed from behind the hooked ends 104 of the device 100. When this has been done, the sashes and sash balances may be rocked inwardly and removed in the manner indicated in Figure 6.

Those familiar with the building trades will appreciate the advantages provided by my invention. For instance, removal of window sashes after they have once been installed is made easy and convenient. By employing screws to fix stops 54 and 56 in place, the sashes may be removed even by those having minimum experience in this sort Iof work, and after all trim is in place.

ln construction work, the window sashes may be dclivered after window frames have been installed with the clips .100 applied thereto and can be snapped into position at any time during construction. The sash and window frames can be completely primed, even behind thc combination weatherstrip and sash balance elements. The

sash balances can be removed until plastering work is completed if they were previously installed, and if plaster brick or building settlements bow the window frame, the sashes are quickly removed for rei'itting operations. Moreover, in these days of quickly changing styles, my invention makes it easy to change window sashes from one style to another without damage to either the sash or the weatherstripping employed. Of course, it either of the panes 34 or 44 is -accidently broken, the sashes are readily removed for reglazing at a convenient location.

The trimming of the corners of the devices 1% prevents sharp corners from digging into the sashes when they are moved vertically. Also, it has been found that the dies employed in forming the device ltitl are much more cheaply made if these corners are eliminated.

An important feature of my invention is that it enables the home builder to provide the best type of window at minimum cost.

Materials other than aluminum, having appropriate characteristics, may be employed to form .the clip ltitl and the sash balances.

The foregoing description Vand the drawings are given merely to explain and illustrate my invention and the manner in which it may be performed, and the invention is not to be limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, since those skilled in the art who have my disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. A window structure for a window frame including spaced side jambs, a sill and a head section, said window structure comprising a pair of combination weatherstrip and sash balance units, each of said units comprising an elongate strip -of resilient material formed with track means and laterally extending side anges that extend longitudinally of the unit, a sash received between said units and formed with surfaces along its side rails .that are complementary to and cooperate with said track means whereby movement of the sash longitudinally of the units is guided, said units further comprising resilient means that is secured between said units and said sash, and a plurality of clips iixed to said jambs and releasably securing said units thereto, each of said clips comprising a strip of relatively stiff material disposed substantially perpendicular to the respective units and the jambs, with :both ends of the strip being hooked, said ilanges of said units being respectively received behind the respective hooked ends of said clips.

2. A window structure for a window frame including spaced jambs, a sill and head sections, said window structure comprising a pair of sash balance units having relatively thin laterally extending side edges, a vertically movable sash secured between said balances, and spaced hooked elements for releasably securing said balances to the respective jambs of the window frame, said hooked elements each comprising a length of relatively flat material having hooked ends, means for xing said elements to said jambs in a substantially horizontal position, said edges of said units being received within the hooked ends of said elements.

3. A window structure for a window frame including spaced jambs, a sill and a head section, said window structure comprising a pair of combination weatherstrip and sash balance units, each of said units comprising an elongate strip of flexible metal formed with longitudinally extending track means and side anges that project laterally from said track means, a sash received between said units and formed with surfaces that are complementary to and cooperate with said track means, whereby movement of the sash longitudinally of the units is guided, said units further comprising resilient means that is secured between said units and said sash, and a plurality of clips fixed to said jambs and releasably securing said units thereto, each of said clips comprising a strip of relatively stii material disposed substantially perpendicular to the respective jambs, with both ends thereof being hooked away from the jamb to which the clip is secured, said units being secured to said clips by exing said strips of said units about their longitudinal axes to position said side flanges thereof behind the hooked ends of said clips.

4. ln a window structure including a window frame formed by spaced jambs, a sill, and a head section, a pair of combination weatherstrip and sash balance units, and a sash secured between said units, said units each comprising an elongate strip of flexible metal formed with longitudinally extending track means that guide the movement ofthe sash with respect thereto and side flanges that project laterally from said track means, a device for releasably securing the respective units to the respective jambs, said device comprising a generally Hat, relatively stiit and generally quadrilateral element having two of its opposed ends doubled over on the same side of the element, the tips of said ends thereby extending generally toward each other, said tips being spaced apart a distance that is less than the distance between the outwardly extending edges of said side anges, the side llanges being received within said doubled over tipped ends and means for fixing said element to a jamb in a generally horizontally extending position, with the other side of said element abutting the jamb, whereby one 0f the above mentioned units may be secured to the jamb by flexing same about its longitudinally extending axis and positioning the side flanges thereof behind the doubled over ends of said element, and then releasing the unit to permit same to unflex to the extent permitted by the ends of said element.

5. The device set forth in claim 4 wherein said element further comprises a relatively flat central portion spacing angled portions extending away from the plane of said central portion in the direction that is opposite to the direction that said ends are doubled over, said angled portions including said opposed ends, whereby, when said central portion is fixed flush against the jamb, said doubled over ends are bent back into the plane of said center portion.

6. The device set forth in claim 5 wherein the corners of said doubled over ends are trimmed olf.

7. In a Window structure including a window frame formed by spaced jambs, a sill and a head section, a pair of combination weatherstrip and sash balance units, and a sash secured between said units, said units each comprising an elongate strip of flexible metal formed with longitudinally extending track means that guide the movement of the sash with respect thereto and side flanges that project laterally from said track means, a device for releasably securing the respective units to the respective jambs, said device comprising spaced anchor means secured to a jamb, said anchor means having hook portions extending inwardly toward said units, the distance between the inner edges of said hook portions being less than the distance between the outwardly extending edges of said side anges and the side flanges being received within said hook portions, whereby one of the above mentioned units may be secured to the jamb by flexing same about its longitudinally extending axis and positioning the side flanges thereof beneath said hook portions and then releasing the unit to permit same to untlex to the extent permitted by said anchor means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,654,805 Hamric Jan. 3, 1928 2,065,325 Calhoun Dec. 22, 1936 2,158,963 Gossen May 16, 1939 2,678,477 Russell May 18, 1954 2,761,173 Dinsmore Sept. 4, 1956 2,775,795 Hettinger Ian. 1, 1957 

